What is new in Alevel H2 Physics syllabus in Singapore for exams from year 2026 onwards?

1. Basic Information

• 9478 (2026): New syllabus, first exam 2026; published 2024.

• 9749 (2023): Current syllabus, exam from 2023; published 2021.

2. Curriculum & Framework

• 9478:

￮ Framework: Practices of Science + Values/Ethics/Attitudes + Disciplinary Content + Learning Experiences

￮ Content structured into 6 clear sections: Foundations of Physics, Mechanics, Waves, Thermal Physics, Electricity & Magnetism, Modern Physics

￮ Explicitly adds “Foundations of Physics” as a standalone section

• 9749:

￮ Framework: Practices of Science + Core Ideas + Learning Experiences

￮ Content organised as: Measurement, Newtonian Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Oscillation & Waves, Electricity & Magnetism, Modern Physics

￮ No separate “Foundations” section

3. Assessment Structure (Papers & Weighting)

Component	9478 (2026)	9749 (2023)
Paper 1 (MCQ)	1h, 30m, 15%	1h, 30m, 15%
Paper 2 (Structured)	2h, 75m, 30%	2h, 80m, 30%
Paper 3 (Long Structured)	2h, 75m, 35%	2h, 80m, 35%
Paper 4 (Practical)	2h30m, 50m, 20%	2h30m, 55m, 20%
Section B (Paper 3)	1 out of 2 questions (20m)	1 out of 2 questions (20m)

Minor differences: Total marks for Papers 2/3/4 are slightly lower in 9478.

4. Assessment Objectives Weighting

• 9478:

￮ A: Knowledge with understanding → 36%

￮ B: Handling, applying & evaluating info → 44%

￮ C: Practical skills → 20%

• 9749:

￮ A: Knowledge → 32%

￮ B: Application → 48%

￮ C: Practical → 20%

9478 gives more weight to knowledge recall, 9749 emphasises application skills.

5. Practical Assessment (Paper 4)

• 9478:

￮ Mandatory spreadsheet software for data analysis

￮ Planning (P): 4%; MMO/PDO/ACE: 16%

￮ Fixed 1h15m per section for apparatus access

• 9749:

￮ No spreadsheet requirement

￮ Planning (P): 5%; MMO/PDO/ACE: 15%

￮ No fixed time per section

6. Content Changes

Added in 9478

• Standalone Foundations of Physics (quantities/measurement, forces/moments, motion/forces, energy/fields)

• RC circuits (charging/discharging) in Circuits

• Particle in a 1D infinite square well (energy levels ) in Quantum Physics

• Escape velocity in Gravitational Fields

• Explicit STSE (Science-Technology-Society-Environment) in Practices of Science

Removed/Reduced in 9478

• Simplified some topic descriptions; less detailed subtopic splitting

• No separate “Hydrostatic pressure” derivation

• Fewer circuit theorems (e.g., potentiometer comparison removed)

7. Mathematical & Skill Requirements

• 9478: Adds spreadsheet skills (import data, plot graphs, trendline, area/gradient calculation)

• Both share similar math (algebra, trigonometry, vectors, graphs)

8. Other Small Differences

• 9478 includes capacitor energy formulae () explicitly

• 9478 has a more detailed glossary and formula list

• 9749 uses “Core Ideas in Physics”; 9478 uses “Disciplinary Content”

Quick Summary

The 2026 syllabus (9478) is more structured, adds foundational physics and digital practical skills, shifts weighting toward knowledge, and requires spreadsheet use. The 2023 syllabus (9749) is more application‑focused and has no digital data analysis requirement.

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